Opinion

THE  Commission on Human Rights (CHR) supports the filing of Senate Bill No. 2694 by Senator Raffy Tulfo, aimed at increasing the pay of Filipino nurses. The proposed Act seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9173, or “The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002,” upgrading the minimum salary grade of nurses from SG 15 to SG 19. "We applaud Senator Tulfo's initiative, as it will undoubtedly boost the morale of our nurses. It's high time we prioritize our frontline service workers, particularly those in the health sector, who are among the essential pillars of our nation," stated CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc. Currently, nurses employed in government hospitals earn at least 36,000 pesos monthly, the lowest wage among Southeast Asian countries according to news reports. This situation drives ...

COMMISSIONER Beda Angeles Epres, Focal Commissioner for Older Persons of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), supports and acknowledges the proposed P500 monthly grocery discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). “This initiative reflects the Commission’s collective efforts to improve the quality of life for our elderly and persons with disabilities. This also demonstrates our shared commitment to inclusivity and welfare for all,” Commissioner Epres said. According to news reports, House Speaker Martin Romualdez stated that he secured the commitment of relevant authorities to grant the aforementioned discount during a meeting with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials. This would result in a monthly increase to P500 from the current P260 discount ...

GUNNED down in public and in broad daylight, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemns the killing of lawyer Maria Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales-Alzate.  Based on initial news reports, two unidentified assailants boarding a motorcycle got close to the lawyer's vehicle and opened fire at least eight times on Thursday, September 14, 2023. She was parked in front of their house along Santiago Street, Zone 2 in Bangued, Abra when the shooting happened. The lawyer was brought to the hospital after the incident but also died later that day.  Gonzales-Alzate was a former president of the Abra chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), a public interest lawyer, and IBP Commissioner of Bar Discipline since 2015.  CHR strongly condemns the killing of another lawy...

SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday encouraged Filipino college graduates to embrace their “unique selling point” as they join the workforce, saying God made them “for a special purpose.” “In navigating this world, remember you’re unique… Everything about you, hinandmade ng Panginoon ‘yan. May ipapagawa sa’yo,” Cayetano told hundreds of college graduates of the Southville International School and Colleges in his speech during their commencement exercises on August 8, 2023. The commencement exercise was also attended by Former Senator Francis Pangilinan and SISC’s Chairman of the Board Dr. Peter P. Laurel. The senator, whose leadership is based on Christian faith and values, urged the graduates to listen to what their “heart and mind" are saying and not to be swayed by negative...

AS Gender Ombud, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) denounces and calls for justice for the recent series of separate heinous violence committed against women in various areas in the country.  In Antipolo City, the dismembered body parts of a woman who was reported missing were found under a bridge in Barangay dela Paz and in Barangay San Jose on 9 June 2023. The victim's partner confessed to the crime after a few days.  In Aklan, a 19-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds was found dead in a creek in Barangay Torralba in the town of Banga on 14 June 2023. On the same day, the naked and bloodied body of a woman was found in a canal in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.  In Caloocan City, a 21-year-old woman was found buried in a vacant lot in Barangay 171, North Calooca...

SINCE the 1970s, the country’s labor market has been driven by export-oriented economic policies that employ women in industries such as domestic care, textile and garment production, food processing, and electronics manufacturing. While this en masse recruitment of Filipina laborers paved the way for progress in addressing gender gap issues in terms of economic opportunities, educational attainment and political participation, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) stresses that women workers continue to experience diverse forms of discrimination in the workplace. The Philippines has yet to ratify Convention 190 (C190) or the convention concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work since it was adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in June 20...

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has long since stood in solidarity with the media community and called for substantive legislation that will foster a healthy media environment, where workers are not only able to conduct their duty without fear of intimidation, violence, or reprisals, but also boost their collective morale. CHR thus supports the passage, through a unanimous vote, of House Bill (HB) No. 454 or the Media Workers’ Welfare Act on its final reading at the House of Representatives on 21 November 2022. HB 454 seeks to provide regularization to media employees after six cumulative months of employment with adequate compensation. These include basic social security and welfare benefits as mandated by law, disability benefits, medical insurance, and death benefit for the fam...

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the upcoming visit to the Philippines of the United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, on 28 November to 8 December 2022, upon invitation from the government. The Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography, and other child sexual abuse material, has the mandate to analyze the root causes of the sale and sexual exploitation of children and identify new and emerging patterns of the phenomena. In addition, she is also mandated to exchange good practices to combat the said problem, promote preventive measures, and make recommendations for the rehabilitation of victims. The Commission is hopeful t...

PROVIDING assistance to workers who suffered injury, contracted illness, and/or died in the performance of their duty, especially in critical times, are essential in ensuring workers' security and protection. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recognizes the government's provision of financial assistance to those harmed or killed on duty in times of calamity or disaster through the Employee's Compensation Program implemented by the Employee's Compensation Commission (ECC). Government workers, private sector employees, self-employed individuals, house helpers, and sea-based overseas workers may avail of the said benefit. For government workers, all compulsory members of Government Service Insurance System or GSIS, including uniformed personnel, are qualified to receive financial assis...

(Statement of the Commission on Human Rights welcoming the DSWD-PAO agreement to pursue legal remedies against fathers who neglect child support) CHIL-REARING is a full-time job, all the more for single mothers who need to earn a living to support their families. This already demanding responsibility, coupled with the challenges of inflation and job security, entails support to ensure that children grow in a nurturing environment conducive to the development of their full potential. As such, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the collaboration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) to help children and their mothers receive support from estranged fathers. Through a signed memorandum of agreement, the two agencies w...